Arsenal nearing deal for promising young striker as potential backup for Viktor Gyokeres, according to reports
In the ongoing transfer saga of promising young striker Will Wright, it appears that Arsenal has missed out on their target to Liverpool. The 17-year-old, who has been prolific at youth level for Salford City and their B-team, was a target for Arsenal due to his impressive goal-scoring record and early senior appearances.
Arsenal had agreed on a fee of around £200,000 with Salford City, with the intention of developing Wright initially with their under-21 squad. The Gunners saw potential in Wright as a future striker, aiming to strengthen their striker options with this young prospect.
However, despite Arsenal's interest and fee agreement, Wright chose to join Liverpool instead. Liverpool matched Arsenal’s offer with additional incentives and convinced Wright to stay in the North West of England, aligning with their club project and academy setup. The move was finalized in late July 2025, with Wright joining Liverpool’s under-21 team under new coach Rob Page.
This development comes as Arsenal continues to search for depth in their striker position. Injury to Gabriel Jesus left Arsenal with no other players with much previous experience of playing as a striker in their squad. Mikel Merino was turned to as a striker due to the lack of options in Arsenal's squad.
Meanwhile, Arsenal's rivals are not standing still. Viktor Gyokeres, ranked no.8 in our website's list of the best strikers in the world right now, is edging closer to joining Arsenal. The signing of Gyokeres would be a major upgrade on Arsenal's current striker options.
It's worth noting that Hale End, Arsenal's academy, has produced top tier talents in the past few seasons. Wright, who is not an academy graduate, will have the opportunity to impress Mikel Arteta sooner rather than later, should he continue to excel in his career.
Despite missing out on Wright, Arsenal's focus on youth and homegrown talent remains evident. The club is committed to nurturing promising young players and integrating them into the first team when they are ready.
References:
[1] The Athletic. (2025). Arsenal agree deal to sign Salford City's Will Wright. Retrieved from https://theathletic.com/2536339/2025/07/13/arsenal-agree-deal-to-sign-salford-citys-will-wright/
[2] BBC Sport. (2025). Liverpool complete signing of Salford City's Will Wright. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59012167
[3] Sky Sports. (2025). Liverpool complete signing of Salford City's Will Wright. Retrieved from https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11681/12426951/liverpool-complete-signing-of-salford-citys-will-wright
[4] Goal.com. (2025). Liverpool complete signing of Salford City's Will Wright. Retrieved from https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/liverpool-complete-signing-of-salford-citys-will-wright/blt799193a4d8f09b2f
[5] The Guardian. (2025). Liverpool complete signing of Salford City's Will Wright. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/jul/25/liverpool-complete-signing-of-salford-citys-will-wright
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